The Canadian family

Hey everybodyguys. This week it’s Rogers Cup week with action simultaneously (albeit rain delays) taking place in Montreal and Toronto. So, in keeping with all things Canada, we thought we’d take a little look at some of the country’s players- Both at the top of the game or eagerly entering the pro tour. How much do you know about them?

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THE DADDYMilos Raonic

Milos turned pro in 2008 and, currently #10 in the world but a former #4, is the highest ranked Canadian. With a 153.3mph serve (the 5th fastest in history) he’s also pretty assertive. He was born in Montenegro but moved to Ontario when he was three and has considered himself a proud Canadian since. He has an amateur song written about him and he doesn’t like coffee but offer him a cheesecake (preferably strawberry) and you’ll be sure to make him happy.

THE DISCONCERTED TEENEugenie Bouchard

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Genie, 21, is no longer a teenager but is going through that transitional period in life that many may relate to. Full of ambition and an endearing energy, onlookers watched her with admiration and pride. Like seeing one’s daughter succeed at school, she was a young player rising up the rankings. Then she became entangled with pressure, with selfies and glamour and criticisms about attitude. She seemingly flopped onto her bed, Justin Beiber playing loudly through her speakers, and let feelings of confusion and insecurity weigh her down. But there’s no reason to hate. She’s young and learning and, with the right people around her and the right frame of mind, will no doubt flourish like we’ve seen her do before.

THE MUSICIANVasek Pospisil

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25 year old Vasek is currently ranked 45 with a career-high of 15. His biggest success comes in doubles, where him and partner Jack Sock have a former ranking of #4 plus a Wimbledon title to their names. Vasek’s parents are from the Czech Republic but he was born and raised in Vernon and his earliest tennis memory is acting as ball boy at the age of three while his father and two older brothers played together. Now, if Vasek isn’t immersed in tennis, you may find him playing on his guitar and singing along with that notable smile on his face.

THE HISTORY MAKERFelix Auger-Aliassime

TC Media- Ghyslain Bergeron

This newly-turned fifteen year old (birthday on the 8th August) from Montreal has already been making noise on the pro tour. Last month he became the youngest player to win a main draw match on the challenger circuit, during the Granby tournament in Quebec. He made it to the quarter finals where he lost in three sets to the number 4 seed Yoshihito Nishioka. In March he made history with his pro debut, at a challenger nearby in Drummondville, by winning three matches to reach the main draw as the youngest person to do so. He also became the youngest to earn an ATP ranking. That ranking has now risen (to 747) and he’s the youngest player to break the top 800. At the moment his favourite shots are his forehand and serve and he states Roger Federer, Jo Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils as his idols.

THE LEARNERFrancoise Abanda

The Canadian Press/ Graham Hughes

18 year old Francoise, currently ranked 315, turned heads at the 2014 Rogers Cup when she emphatically took a set off of the tenth seed Dominika Cibulkova. In April, she produced her best win when defeating her first top 50 player (world number 33, Irina-Camelia Begu) during the Fed Cup play-offs against Romania. Being a ‘copy-cat’ as a child, Francoise only began playing tennis because her older sister, Elisabeth, did and consequently Elisabeth became her biggest influence as she strived to be better the player. She loves the Williams sisters too and if she could play doubles with any male it would be Gael Monfils.

As this is pubished, all but one (and Auger-Alliasime who wasn’t in the main draw) have gone out of the tournament in the first round. Did we jinx it?